Submission to the SIMP Zoning Review 2010 (urgent)
Leif Nielsen Lemke
The Zoning Plan(s) for the Solitary Islands Marine Park (SIMP) (Coffs Harbour) and the adjacent SIM Reserve (Commonwealth) is on review until the 17/09/10. The next review will not be before 2020, so this is perhaps our last chance to increase the protection in this marine park.
At present only 12% of the SIMP and 6.7% of the NSW Coastal waters are fully protected from fishing, a far cry from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recommended 20 – 30% by year 2012. The Federal Government is a full member of IUCN.
The Marine Campaigners from the Environmental Movement call for a minimum of 35% of the SIMP to be fully protected within a Sanctuary Zone, still less than 10% of the NSW coast.
Such a step will go a long way towards protecting the marine habitats and the bio-diversity of the local marine environment, but will also help in protecting wild fish stock for future generations. Where 'No-take” areas have been in place over a length of time, fish populations have been proven to significantly increase both inside and adjacent to the No-Take zones, resulting in improved overall fishing.
The position of some recreational and commercial fishers is that they have a 'God Given Right' to fish anywhere they wish. This attitude and practice has lead to a significant depletion of the marine resources and have brought many species to the brink of extinction. Both these groups have the ear of the NSW Government and we need many submissions to make an impact on the authorities.
We urge you to make the following points in a short submission:
We/I submit the following to the review of the SIMP Zoning Plan 2010:
-
A minimum of 35% of all habitats within the SIMP to be protected in a Sanctuary Zone.
-
The phasing out of trawling within 2 years of the declaration of the new plan.
-
Increased protection of all shark species including the critically endangered grey nurse shark.
-
Phase out 4wds from all beaches in the Marine Park (the latest research has shown substantial damage to the food source of birds and fishes from driving on the beach).
You can email your submission to: solitary...@mpa.nsw.gov.au
Submissions received to the 17st of Sept. 2010
or post to: SIMP
Reply Paid 297
Coffs Harbour Jetty, NSW 2450
Remember to include your: Name, address, date and signature (if posted)
For further information see www.mpa.nsw.gov.au/simp.html
This position is endorsed by The Bellingen Environment Centre, NSW Nature Conservation Council, NSW National Park Association, The Australian Marine Conservation Society, and The Wilderness Society.
Leif Nielsen Lemke
Bellingen Environment
Centre
4/1 Church Street Lane
Bellingen NSW 2454
Ph. 02 66 558
770
thor...@westnet.com.au
PS: Please let us know if
you no longer wish to receive emails from our group.
This form is printed on FSC certified paper